A team of nurses and others at the St. Jude affiliate at Novant Health Hemby Children’s Hospital participate in CureSearch’s Ultimate Hike

Charlotte, NC – On a daily basis, the members of Team St. Jude Affiliate’s Got Stamina can be found at Novant Health Hemby Children’s Hospital in Charlotte. They’ve seen their fair share of the hardships and triumphs a family goes through when their child is fighting cancer, from needle pokes and chemo treatment to receiving the news that they are in remission. As nurses, pharmacists, and child life specialists, they spend every working hour making the world better for children with cancer.

But they don’t stop fighting for these kids when their work day is over. Instead, they lace up their hiking boots and take to the trails to train for CureSearch for Children’s Cancer’s Ultimate Hike,a 28.3 mile trek in one day, where each participant raises funds for critical research aimed at increasing the survival rate and reducing the toxicity of treatments for children with cancer.

Team Captain Phelecia Wells, a staff nurse in the outpatient clinic, organized the group. “It is such an honor to be able to support this cause,” said Wells. “Being lucky enough to work with these children, I know how important this organization and funding is.”

Team St. Jude Affiliate’s Got Stamina poses in their team shirts.

The team knows the importance of research, and what’s at stake. “I feel like it is important to fund pediatric cancer because we lose too many children to cancer and have too many devastating side effect and long term side effects. The standard of care for so many childhood cancers are old and we need newer, less toxic treatments,” said teammate Hannah Yow. One in eight children diagnosed with cancer does not survive, and three in five suffer significant side effects.

CureSearch Staff are appreciative of the work the team does, both in the hospital and on the trail. “Medical professionals that work with children with cancer put so much into their work and handle the most difficult of situations with grace. It would be easy for them to want to create distance when their work day is over, but this team keeps on giving. We’re so honored they’re hiking,” said Brecka Putnam, Hike Manager. “I’ve been fortunate to spend time at Hemby and get to know some of the people. It’s an incredible place with an amazing team, so I’m not surprised to see them going the extra mile, literally, for their patients.”

Several teammates on a training hike.

The Team will take to the trail on April 29th for a long trek, but many of them will be drawing strength from the children they’ve worked with. “There are many children who are now angels who will be on my mind the most…There are just too many to list them all. But, ultimately, I’m hiking in honor of all our sweet patients – our angels, our current warriors & our survivors!” said Nurse Stephanie Hannah.

The team will also hike alongside parents whose children did not survive their cancer diagnosis. It’s going to be emotional, but the team is ready. “Their strength and courage are unbelievable. I’m so blessed to know them and to have been a part of their journey. It’s such an honor for me to participate alongside them,” said Hannah.

Ultimate Hike provides participants with awe-inspiring event weekends and the opportunity to help children with cancer. In its 7th year, it is the original endurance fundraiser on the Foothills Trail, and is the only national hiking fundraiser to fund research to end the number one disease killer of children.

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CureSearch for Children’s Cancer

CureSearch for Children’s Cancer, a national nonprofit organization based in Bethesda, Md, works to end childhood cancer by driving targeted and innovative research with measurable results in an accelerated time frame. CureSearch is building a $10 million research pipeline to aggressively drive pediatric research grants and clinical trials that have a higher chance of becoming cures for children’s cancer without the toxic side effects that plague current treatment options.